438 



PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION F. 



II. — General characters of the wheat produce at Rothamsted, 

 and quantities per acre, pounds — mean results for ten plots over 

 each period : — 



The greater richness of the Australian wheat in phosphates, 

 makes it the more valuable as a bread corn, and is due, no doubt, 

 to the more favourable conditions of temperature under which 

 wheat is matured here. But it is the more exhausting on that 

 account ; and all the more so because our soils, while yielding 

 their nitrates and phospates readily to grain crops and grasses, 

 are but poorly supplied with them naturally — hence, as the analyses 

 carried out by me in the Sydney Technical College, leave not a 

 doubt — the reason, beyond all others, why much really excellent 

 country in other re.spects, becomes impoverished for wheat pro- 

 duction, and suffers materially in its capacity to support the richer 

 indigenous grasses. The requirements of a fertiliser to meet the 

 case, are as follows, compounded in parts : — 



Superpliosphate... ... ... ... 30 parts. 



Sulph. ammonia ... ... ... 5 ,, 



Nitrate of potash ... ... ... 13 ,, 



Gypsum (Sulph. lime) .. ... ... 10 ,, 



This can be composted, to the extent of four or more times its 

 own weight, with stable or cow-pen manure, or with ashes, or 

 good loamy soil — the richer in organic matter the better, and 

 applied with most satisfactory results upon wheat land. From 

 four hundred to seven hundred pounds per acre would be ample, 

 and the effect would be seen on three or more crops, of which wheat 

 could be one. Amongst other advantages of such treatment as 



